Short film focus on Kris Marshall @ BAFTA
Kris Marshall may gleam in the public’s consciousness through his performances in film and on TV, but it is in the arena of short films that he absolutely glitters! There’s something so engaging and familiar about him, it is obvious that he was never going to survive as an extra – his face is just too damned distracting to keep in the wings.
“It’s two-thirds me.”
Kris Marshall says that he brings bits of himself to each role. If that is the case, what do you make of the cast of characters on show at a very special BAFTA film focus for the London Short Film Festival:
- Henry, a man stuck in a Tales-of-the-unexpected moment in a tailor’s shop forced to make an eerie choice between his limbs and a rather fetching pair of red trousers (in William Felix Clark’s The Amazing Trousers)
- A most lightweight gold lamé-clad wrestler on the night bus to Croydon (in Ben Gregor’s World of Wrestling)
- A modern guy struggling to survive modern life, love, dogs and DIY (in Jack Herbert’s Dog Flap)
- Belmondo, the man who would be the embodiment of cool French New Wave, if only he wasn’t trapped in London! (Toby MacDonald’s Je T’aime John Wayne)
“I was unknown!”
Marshall says he was unknown when he was cast in Je T’aime John Wayne, which was to become his breakthrough short. The film attracted several awards and a BAFTA nomination for best short film. Now, of course, he is often recognised, attracting the comment ‘Hey man, ditch the kids!’ in reference to his appearance on a series of rather high-profile advertisements. But when people approach him because they’ve seen his work in short films, he really is chuffed: it proves all the hard work was not for nothing.
“Shorts can be strange.”
And let’s face it, ‘nothing’ is usually what shorts are made for. Marshall has done his fair share of working for free. But that is because he likes the advantages of shorts: “Shorts can be strange.” There’s no faffing around with back story; you can be creative. “Shorts are good for people like me who have a short attention span, and they can be great fun!” He really means it when he says ‘We make GREAT shorts in this country!’
“Love me; love my script”
What attracts him to a short film project? Marshall says that, apart from an upfront declaration that ‘it’s NOT for free’, he’ll consider doing the work just because he likes the project team and especially if he likes the script.
“Four nights on the night bus to Croydon!”
His commitment for Je T’aime was four days, filming on location around London. For Wrestling it was four nights on the night bus to Croydon! Making shorts may not have helped him financially survive his eight-year apprenticeship doing Agatha Christie rep plays (Kris’s Dad was in the audience to remind him that that was due to his weekly hand-outs and supporting him through a series of odd and often-fired-from jobs!) However, apart from seeing shorts as an obvious, and sometimes only, route for directors to pursue feature film work, he sees them as a great way to fundraise for other films, and for an actor to start a showreel. Marshall is positive that working in shorts has helped him when it comes to casting calls. He is sure that Je T’aime gave him an edge over other actors. Even his most recent financially rewarding TV ad campaign was due to friendships and connections made with savvy directors during former collaborations in short films. So, perhaps shorts CAN pay off in the end.
“I just need to crack on really!”
When it comes to working with directors, Marshall reveals the BEST advice he’s ever been given: “Don’t try to play the whole role in one scene.” And what about the WORST advice? “Oh, a note saying: ‘Be better!’ – that is not very helpful!” he says.
Would Marshall like to turn his hand to directing one day? What about a short film? “Hell, yes!” He says he has ideas but it just takes discipline and a script. “Well, I just need to crack on really!”
Marshall’s fans at the London Short Film Festival would agree – an entry for next year’s festival would be most eagerly awaited.
- Beth Keehn -